Architecture: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 82 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Negative payoff
−$36,723 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
With these assumptions, the added earnings do not recover the cost within ten years.
11.6 yrsModeled economic break-even
−14%Modeled 10-year ROI
$67,399Observed earnings · year 4
$10,998Maximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
The price benchmark would need to fall by $9,181 per year to reach it.
Includes direct price and earnings forgone while studying. Assumes $45,000 in alternative annual earnings and no wage growth. How we calculate itFour useful answers about Architecture
How much do Architecture bachelor's degree graduates earn?
The national median is $67,399 four years after completion across reportable bachelor's degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
The median reported federal debt is $27,000. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.
Does the college matter for Architecture?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $62,803 to $70,752 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Architecture?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 4 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$43,990
$8,000Annual price+$11,990
$16,000Annual price−$20,010
$20,000Current college-wide context−$36,010
$24,000Annual price−$52,010
$32,000Annual price−$84,010
$40,000Annual price−$116,010
Observed national outcomes
$67,399Median reported earnings · year 4
$67,204Average reported earnings · year 5
$27,000Median federal debt
58thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
76IPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
79With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 12 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts, not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $36,438
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $67,399
- Federal debt
- $27,000
- Reporting programs
- 82
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $73,496
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 51
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $77,290
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 3
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$62,803National median$67,39975th percentile$70,752
79 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP
Where colleges sit for this exact degree
Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.
$76,808Observed year-4 earnings$57,778
University of Notre Dame$26,780 price · $82,983 earningsBoston Architectural College$25,865 price · $82,268 earningsPratt Institute-Main$52,659 price · $78,206 earningsCalifornia State Polytechnic University-Pomona$11,531 price · $76,969 earningsThe University of Texas at Austin$19,857 price · $76,808 earningsNorth Carolina State University at Raleigh$17,303 price · $76,695 earningsUniversity of California, Berkeley$13,481 price · $76,679 earningsCalifornia Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$16,665 price · $76,613 earningsPennsylvania State University-Main Campus$32,875 price · $76,181 earningsUniversity of Miami$37,244 price · $75,633 earningsRensselaer Polytechnic Institute$36,228 price · $75,551 earningsVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University$24,953 price · $75,074 earningsUniversity of Arizona$16,674 price · $74,972 earningsNewschool of Architecture and Design$52,570 price · $74,587 earningsNortheastern University$30,915 price · $74,540 earningsCarnegie Mellon University$31,944 price · $73,439 earningsDrexel University$38,509 price · $72,915 earningsUniversity of Nevada-Las Vegas$10,359 price · $72,468 earningsAuburn University$24,323 price · $72,420 earningsGeorgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus$12,116 price · $71,292 earningsKennesaw State University$15,048 price · $70,752 earningsUniversity of Houston$14,276 price · $70,616 earningsUniversity of Oklahoma-Norman Campus$15,300 price · $70,383 earningsUniversity of Virginia-Main Campus$21,565 price · $70,213 earningsDrury University$20,831 price · $70,134 earningsOklahoma State University-Main Campus$17,447 price · $70,123 earningsFlorida Agricultural and Mechanical University$13,739 price · $69,874 earningsThe Catholic University of America$29,561 price · $69,838 earningsMississippi State University$17,595 price · $69,699 earningsUniversity of Washington-Seattle Campus$14,091 price · $69,515 earningsIowa State University$18,589 price · $69,310 earningsLouisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College$19,151 price · $69,029 earningsThe University of Tennessee-Knoxville$18,976 price · $68,765 earningsUniversity of Maryland-College Park$15,678 price · $68,527 earningsIllinois Institute of Technology$18,425 price · $68,358 earningsUniversity of Utah$16,200 price · $67,987 earningsUniversity of Arkansas$18,209 price · $67,955 earningsWoodbury University$33,692 price · $67,517 earningsUniversity of Oregon$22,182 price · $67,425 earningsUniversity of Florida$6,541 price · $67,399 earningsUniversity of North Carolina at Charlotte$15,435 price · $67,204 earningsMarywood University$23,388 price · $67,178 earningsWentworth Institute of Technology$34,170 price · $67,122 earningsNew Jersey Institute of Technology$16,504 price · $66,840 earningsOhio State University-Main Campus$17,339 price · $66,131 earningsUniversity of Cincinnati-Main Campus$25,648 price · $65,449 earningsNorth Dakota State University-Main Campus$15,543 price · $65,148 earningsRoger Williams University$37,999 price · $65,092 earningsUniversity of Michigan-Ann Arbor$13,138 price · $65,015 earningsUniversity of Central Florida$10,411 price · $64,826 earningsFlorida Atlantic University$8,752 price · $64,730 earningsSUNY College of Technology at Alfred$15,016 price · $64,658 earningsTexas A&M University-College Station$21,315 price · $64,643 earningsSouth Dakota State University$19,841 price · $63,978 earningsClemson University$22,253 price · $63,892 earningsTexas Tech University$19,070 price · $63,871 earningsJudson University$18,558 price · $63,846 earningsSouthern Illinois University-Carbondale$13,297 price · $63,104 earningsUniversity of Detroit Mercy$15,232 price · $62,939 earningsUniversity of Wisconsin-Milwaukee$15,014 price · $62,803 earningsUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln$17,747 price · $62,700 earningsUniversity of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus$11,900 price · $62,619 earningsUniversity of Idaho$14,831 price · $62,557 earningsPrairie View A&M University$13,570 price · $62,540 earningsUniversity of Kentucky$18,851 price · $62,383 earningsPortland State University$9,552 price · $62,349 earningsThe University of Texas at Arlington$13,951 price · $62,345 earningsUniversity of Minnesota-Twin Cities$16,778 price · $62,246 earningsUniversity at Buffalo$20,995 price · $61,525 earningsMiami University-Oxford$28,384 price · $61,466 earningsKeene State College$17,887 price · $61,304 earningsArizona State University Campus Immersion$14,967 price · $60,297 earningsMorgan State University$14,985 price · $59,586 earningsKent State University at Kent$20,787 price · $59,299 earningsNorwich University$22,257 price · $58,534 earningsThe University of Texas at San Antonio$10,836 price · $57,778 earningsUniversity of Illinois Chicago$10,974 price · $56,975 earningsUniversity of New Mexico-Main Campus$15,489 price · $48,424 earningsPontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Ponce$13,192 price · $45,710 earnings
$10,359Annual college-wide average net price$37,244
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
82 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1University of Notre Dame$82,9832Boston Architectural College$82,2683Pratt Institute-Main$78,2064California State Polytechnic University-Pomona$76,9695The University of Texas at Austin$76,8086North Carolina State University at Raleigh$76,6957University of California, Berkeley$76,6798California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo$76,6139Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus$76,18110University of Miami$75,633Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Architecture Teachers, Postsecondary$96,870 median wage7,700 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1031+2.6% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.7k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$58,430–$159,030 10th–90th percentileArchitectural and Engineering Managers$171,270 median wage220,260 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9041+5.5% projected employment, 2025–35 · 14.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$120,810–$262,760 10th–90th percentileArchitects, Except Landscape and Naval$99,280 median wage106,770 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-1011+4.3% projected employment, 2025–35 · 6.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$62,300–$161,420 10th–90th percentileNO MATCHUnreported U.S. jobs · SOC 99-9999
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Where this degree has enough data to compare
State pages are published only when at least five operating colleges report year-4 earnings for this exact field and credential.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario, not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Notre DameBachelor's Degree | Notre Dame, IN | $82,983 | $28,419 | +32% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Boston Architectural CollegeBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $82,268 | $53,192 | +31% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Pratt Institute-MainBachelor's Degree | Brooklyn, NY | $78,206 | Not available | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | California State Polytechnic University-PomonaBachelor's Degree | Pomona, CA | $76,969 | $28,000 | +41% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | The University of Texas at AustinBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $76,808 | $21,000 | +23% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | North Carolina State University at RaleighBachelor's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $76,695 | $25,886 | +27% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | University of California, BerkeleyBachelor's Degree | Berkeley, CA | $76,679 | $15,000 | +35% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | California Polytechnic State University-San Luis ObispoBachelor's Degree | San Luis Obispo, CA | $76,613 | $27,500 | +28% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $76,181 | $30,440 | +0% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | University of MiamiBachelor's Degree | Coral Gables, FL | $75,633 | Not available | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteBachelor's Degree | Troy, NY | $75,551 | $31,000 | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Blacksburg, VA | $75,074 | $29,000 | +7% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | University of ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $74,972 | Not available | +21% | Positive payoff |
| 14 | Newschool of Architecture and DesignBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $74,587 | Not available | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Northeastern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $74,540 | $27,500 | -3% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $73,439 | Not available | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Drexel UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $72,915 | $31,000 | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | University of Nevada-Las VegasBachelor's Degree | Las Vegas, NV | $72,468 | $20,000 | +24% | Positive payoff |
| 19 | Auburn UniversityBachelor's Degree | Auburn, AL | $72,420 | $28,000 | -1% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $71,292 | $28,192 | +15% | Positive payoff |
| 21 | Kennesaw State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kennesaw, GA | $70,752 | $31,000 | +7% | Positive payoff |
| 22 | University of HoustonBachelor's Degree | Houston, TX | $70,616 | $26,250 | +8% | Positive payoff |
| 23 | University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusBachelor's Degree | Norman, OK | $70,383 | Not available | +5% | Positive payoff |
| 24 | University of Virginia-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Charlottesville, VA | $70,213 | $23,965 | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Drury UniversityBachelor's Degree | Springfield, MO | $70,134 | $31,000 | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | Oklahoma State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Stillwater, OK | $70,123 | Not available | +1% | Positive payoff |
| 27 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical UniversityBachelor's Degree | Tallahassee, FL | $69,874 | $27,000 | +6% | Positive payoff |
| 28 | The Catholic University of AmericaBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $69,838 | $27,000 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Mississippi State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Mississippi State, MS | $69,699 | $31,000 | -1% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $69,515 | $20,423 | +4% | Positive payoff |
| 31 | Iowa State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Ames, IA | $69,310 | $31,000 | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBachelor's Degree | Baton Rouge, LA | $69,029 | $26,500 | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | The University of Tennessee-KnoxvilleBachelor's Degree | Knoxville, TN | $68,765 | $31,000 | -7% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | University of Maryland-College ParkBachelor's Degree | College Park, MD | $68,527 | $22,654 | -3% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Illinois Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $68,358 | $31,000 | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | University of UtahBachelor's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $67,987 | Not available | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | University of ArkansasBachelor's Degree | Fayetteville, AR | $67,955 | $27,250 | -9% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Woodbury UniversityBachelor's Degree | Burbank, CA | $67,517 | $41,750 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | University of OregonBachelor's Degree | Eugene, OR | $67,425 | $19,500 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | University of FloridaBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $67,399 | $19,843 | +9% | Positive payoff |
| 41 | University of North Carolina at CharlotteBachelor's Degree | Charlotte, NC | $67,204 | $27,000 | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | Marywood UniversityBachelor's Degree | Scranton, PA | $67,178 | $31,000 | -19% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Wentworth Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $67,122 | $25,000 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | New Jersey Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Newark, NJ | $66,840 | Not available | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | Ohio State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $66,131 | $27,000 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | University of Cincinnati-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Cincinnati, OH | $65,449 | $22,600 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | North Dakota State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Fargo, ND | $65,148 | $27,000 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | Roger Williams UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bristol, RI | $65,092 | $27,000 | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $65,015 | $18,750 | -14% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | University of Central FloridaBachelor's Degree | Orlando, FL | $64,826 | $13,250 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Florida Atlantic UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boca Raton, FL | $64,730 | $30,749 | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | SUNY College of Technology at AlfredBachelor's Degree | Alfred, NY | $64,658 | $31,000 | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $64,643 | $18,465 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | South Dakota State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Brookings, SD | $63,978 | $27,000 | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Clemson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Clemson, SC | $63,892 | $22,500 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | Texas Tech UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lubbock, TX | $63,871 | $21,699 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | Judson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Elgin, IL | $63,846 | $26,221 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | Southern Illinois University-CarbondaleBachelor's Degree | Carbondale, IL | $63,104 | $25,000 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | University of Detroit MercyBachelor's Degree | Detroit, MI | $62,939 | $27,000 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeBachelor's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $62,803 | $26,000 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | University of Nebraska-LincolnBachelor's Degree | Lincoln, NE | $62,700 | $26,000 | -29% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $62,619 | $23,000 | -23% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | University of IdahoBachelor's Degree | Moscow, ID | $62,557 | $24,900 | -27% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | Prairie View A&M UniversityBachelor's Degree | Prairie View, TX | $62,540 | $30,429 | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | University of KentuckyBachelor's Degree | Lexington, KY | $62,383 | $24,125 | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | Portland State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Portland, OR | $62,349 | $25,000 | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | The University of Texas at ArlingtonBachelor's Degree | Arlington, TX | $62,345 | $23,535 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $62,246 | $22,284 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | University at BuffaloBachelor's Degree | Buffalo, NY | $61,525 | $22,854 | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | Miami University-OxfordBachelor's Degree | Oxford, OH | $61,466 | Not available | -44% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | Keene State CollegeBachelor's Degree | Keene, NH | $61,304 | $27,000 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $60,297 | $21,067 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | Morgan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $59,586 | $30,500 | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | Kent State University at KentBachelor's Degree | Kent, OH | $59,299 | $26,000 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | Norwich UniversityBachelor's Degree | Northfield, VT | $58,534 | $27,000 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | The University of Texas at San AntonioBachelor's Degree | San Antonio, TX | $57,778 | $23,000 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | University of Illinois ChicagoBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $56,975 | $23,840 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | University of New Mexico-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Albuquerque, NM | $48,424 | Not available | -86% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-PonceBachelor's Degree | Ponce, PR | $45,710 | $31,000 | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | University of San FranciscoBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $41,431 |
| 81 | Ball State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Muncie, IN | Not available | $28,670 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $14,940 |
| 82 | Kean UniversityBachelor's Degree | Union, NJ | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $12,447 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.